Polarized, LED-based illumination source

ABSTRACT

An illumination source includes a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) operating at a first wavelength. Light from the LEDs illuminates a phosphor material that generates light at a second wavelength. A reflective polarizer transmits light at the second wavelength in a first polarization state and reflects light at the second wavelength in a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. The light at the second wavelength reflected by the reflective polarizer is directed back towards the phosphor material without an increase in angular range. In some embodiments the LEDs, having a conformal layer of phosphor material, are attached directly to the first surface of a liquid cooled plate. A liquid coolant contacts a second surface of the plate.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/682,451, filed on May 19, 2005, and which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to illumination systems that may be usedin image projection system. More specifically, the invention relates toillumination systems that include an array of light emitting elements,such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) to generate polarized light.

BACKGROUND

Illumination systems may be found in many different applications,including image projection display systems, backlights for liquidcrystal displays and the like. Projection systems usually use a sourceof light, illumination optics to pass the light to one or moreimage-forming devices, projection optics to project the image(s) fromthe image-forming device(s) and a projection screen on which the imageis displayed. The image-forming device(s) are controlled by anelectronically conditioned and processed video signal.

White light sources, such as high pressure mercury lamps, have been, andstill are, the predominant light sources used in projection displaysystems. In a three-panel image-projection system, the white light beamis split into three primary color channels, red, green and blue, and isdirected to respective image-forming device panels that produce theimage for each color. The resulting primary-colored image beams arecombined into a full color image beam that is projected for display.Some other projection systems use a single imager panel, and so rotatingcolor wheels, or some other type of time-sequential color filter, isused to filter the white light so that light at one primary color isincident on the image-display device at any one time. The light incidentat the panel changes color sequentially to form colored imagessynchronously with the incident light. The viewer's eye integrates thesequentially colored images to perceive a full color image.

More recently, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been considered as analternative to white light sources. In some cases, differentillumination channels are powered by respectively colored LEDs, orarrays of LEDs. For example, blue LEDs are used to illuminate the bluechannel and red LEDs are used to illuminate the red channel. Some typesof image display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), employpolarized light, whereas the LEDs produce unpolarized light, and so onlyhalf of the generated light is usable by the LCD. Furthermore, LEDs thatoperate in the green region of the visible spectrum are known to berelatively inefficient, compared to blue and red LEDs, and so manysystems require more green LEDs than blue or red LEDs. This problem ofinefficiency in the green portion of the spectrum is compounded when thelight is required to be polarized.

There remains a need for a solid state light source that efficientlygenerates green polarized light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention is directed to an illumination sourcethat includes an arrangement of one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs)capable of generating light at a first wavelength. A phosphor materialdisposed proximate the one or more LEDs, the phosphor material emittinglight at a second wavelength when illuminated by the light at the firstwavelength. The source also includes a light collecting/focusing unithaving at least a tapered optical element. A reflective element isdisposed to reflect light at the first wavelength that has passedthrough the phosphor material. A reflective polarizer is disposed totransmit light at the second wavelength in a first polarization stateand to reflect light at the second wavelength in a second polarizationstate orthogonal to the first polarization state. Light at the secondwavelength reflected by the reflective polarizer is directed backtowards the phosphor material without an increase in angular range.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an illuminationsource that includes an array of one or more light emitting diodes(LEDs) capable of emitting light at a first wavelength. There is a firstlight collecting/focusing unit to form at least some of the light at thefirst wavelength into a telecentric beam. A phosphor is capable ofgenerating light at a second wavelength when illuminated by light at thefirst wavelength. The telecentric beam is directed to the phosphor. Areflective polarizer is disposed to transmit light at the secondwavelength, received from the phosphor, in a first polarization stateand to reflect light at the second wavelength in a second polarizationstate back to the phosphor.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an illuminationsource that includes an array of one or more light emitting diodes(LEDs). The LEDs are attached directly to a first surface of the aliquid cooled plate. A liquid coolant contacts a second surface of theliquid cooled plate. A phosphor layer is conformally disposed on the oneor more LEDs.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method ofmanufacturing an illumination source. The method includes providing oneor more (LED) dies having a metallic layer on respective LED lowersurfaces and placing the LED dies in thermal contact with a firstsurface of a plate whose temperature is controllable by flowing a fluidpast a second surface of the metal plate. A heated fluid is passed bythe second surface of the plate so as to melt the metallic layer. Themetallic layer is cooled so that the metallic layer solidifies, therebyattaching the LED dies to the first surface of the liquid cooled plate.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describeeach illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the presentinvention. The following figures and detailed description moreparticularly exemplify these embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of thefollowing detailed description of various embodiments of the inventionin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of anillumination light source according to principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an embodiment of an array of lightemitting diodes as part of an illumination light source;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates another exemplary embodiment of anillumination light source according to principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates another exemplary embodiment of anillumination light source according to principles of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B schematically illustrate additional exemplaryembodiments of illumination light sources according to principles of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 5C and 5D illustrate reflection of light by different types ofreflectors where the light is divergent;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an embodiment of an image projectionsystem that uses an illumination light source according to principles ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an embodiment of an array of LEDs on acold plate, according to principles of the present invention.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in thedrawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is applicable to illumination systems, and is moreparticularly applicable to illumination system for displaying images,for example projection systems such as may be used in projectiontelevisions and displays, monitors and the like.

It is well known that green light emitting diodes (LEDs) are lessefficient than LEDs operating in the blue and red regions of the visiblespectrum. Consequently, LED-based illumination systems require moregreen LEDs than blue and red LEDs to achieve desired levels ofbrightness and color balance. Instead of generating green light directlywith an LED, another approach is to generate light at a firstwavelength, for example blue or UV wavelengths, and to convert the lightat the first wavelength to a green wavelength.

One exemplary approach that may be useful for wavelength convertinglight from an LED to generate green light is schematically illustratedin FIG. 1. An exemplary illumination system 100 has an array of one ormore LEDs 102 mounted on a baseplate 104. The baseplate 104 may be usedfor providing electrical power to the LEDs 102 and also for extractingheat from the LEDs.

At least some of the light 106 from the LEDs 102 is collected in a firstlight collecting/focusing unit 107. In the illustrated embodiment, thelight collecting/focusing unit 107 includes a light pipe 108 having aninput 110 and an output 112.

A side view of an array of LEDs 102 mounted on a baseplate 104 isschematically illustrated in FIG. 2. Some commercially available LEDsthat may be used in the illumination system emit light through the uppersurface, facing the light pipe 108. Other types of commerciallyavailable LEDs, as shown, emit light out of angled faces 202 of the LEDdies.

In some exemplary embodiments, a reflective element 114 may be disposedclose to the LED array. The reflective element 114 surrounds at leastpart of the input 110 to reduce the amount of light that leaks away fromthe input 110 of light pipe 108. The reflective element 114 may bedesired, for example, where the input 110 is separated from the LEDs 102by a small distance due to interference of the wirebonds 204 used tomake electrical connection to the top of the LEDs 102. Thisconfiguration, with the reflective element 114, allows a reduced numberof LEDs 102 to be used, thus reducing cost and power consumption, whilestill filling the light pipe 108. The reflective element 114 may includea metalized or multilayered reflective coating.

In some exemplary embodiments, the light pipe 108 is a tapered solidrectangular prism located directly over LEDs 102. The input 110 of thelight pipe 108 may be made small so as to prevent an increase in theétendue of the system. The étendue is the product of the area of thelight beam at the light source times the solid angle of the light beam.The étendue of the light cannot be reduced but can be increased by theoptical system. This reduces the total brightness of the lightilluminating the display, since the brightness is given by the opticalflux divided by the étendue. Thus, if the area of the light beam isincreased, for example to cover the active area of the imager device, itis sufficient that the angular range of the beam be reducedproportionally in order to conserve the étendue of the light beam. Byconserving the étendue, the brightness of the illumination lightincident at the imager device is maintained at, or close to, the highestachievable level.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the maximum flux perétendue is obtained when the LEDs 102 are non-encapsulated LED dies,emitting light 106 into the air with no additional epoxy, silicone orother intervening material so that LEDs 102 are separated from the input110 of the light pipe 108 by an air gap. This configuration may improvethe reliability of LEDs 102 by eliminating organic and polymer layersthat might be degraded by high temperatures and light flux. In someembodiments, it may be desired to include some encapsulation between theLEDs 102 and the input 110, for example for environmental protection.

It has been found that a light collection efficiency in the range of80%-90% can be obtained by a light pipe 108 in gathering the lightemitted by LEDs 102. In some exemplary embodiments, the light pipe 108may have a length that is between two and ten times longer than itswidth at the output, although the light pipe 108 may also operateoutside this range. As the length of light pipe 108 is increased, theuniformity of the light at the output 112 increases. If the light pipe108 becomes too long, however, the system becomes more bulky andexpensive, and less light exits from the light pipe 108 dues to losseswithin the light pipe 108. Other configurations of light pipe 108 mayalso be used, such as a hollow tunnel rather than a solid light pipe.

In some embodiments, the light collecting/focusing unit 107 may alsoinclude a focusing optic 116, such as a lens, at the output 112. Thefocusing optic 116 may be separate from the light pipe 108 or may beintegrated with the light pipe 108.

The light 118 output from the light collecting/focusing unit 107 may besubstantially telecentric. The term “telecentric” means that the angularrange of the light is substantially the same for different points acrossthe beam. Thus, if a portion of the beam at one side of the beamcontains light in a light cone having a particular angular range, thenother portions of the beam, for example at the middle of the beam and atthe other side of the beam contain light in substantially the sameangular range. Consequently, the light beam is telecentric if light atthe center of the beam is directed primarily along an axis and iscontained within a particular cone angle while light at the edges of thebeam is also directed along the axis and has substantially the same coneangle. If the light pipe 108 is sufficiently long, then the light 118 atthe output 112 may be sufficiently telecentric without the need for afocusing optic 116. Use of a focusing optic 116 permits the lightcollecting/focusing unit 107 to be shorter while still producing atelecentric output. The fraction of the light that is subsequentlyconcentrated at the phosphor for frequency conversion is increased whenthe light is telecentric.

In some exemplary embodiments, the focusing optic 116 may be integratedwith the light pipe 108, or may be separate from the light pipe 108. Inother exemplary embodiments, the light pipe 108 may be provided withcurved sidewalls that perform a focusing function.

The light 118 is passed into a polarizing beamsplitter (PBS) 120. ThePBS 120 may be any suitable type of PBS, for example a MacNeille-typePBS or a multilayer optical film (MOF) PBS, such as an MZIP PBS asdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,962,114 and 6,721,096, incorporated hereinby reference. Other suitable types of PBS include wire grid andcholesteric PBSs. The PBS 120 typically contains a polarizationselective layer 122 disposed between the hypotenuse faces of tworight-angled prisms 124 a and 124 b, although other configurations maybe used. The polarization selective layer 122 reflects light in onepolarization state and transmits light in the orthogonal polarizationstate. The PBS 120 may also include a reflecting film 123 disposedbetween the polarization selective layer 122 and the second prism 124 b.The reflecting layer 123 reflects the light from the LEDs 102 that istransmitted through the polarization selective layer 122. The reflectingfilm 123 is reflective at the first wavelength of light generated by theLEDs 102 and is transmissive at the second wavelength of light generatedby the phosphor: this configuration of reflector may be referred to as along pass reflective filter.

As will become apparent below, in this particular embodiment, the PBS120 is used for polarizing the light at the second wavelength generatedby the phosphor, and the effects of the PBS 120 on the light 118 at thefirst wavelength may be essentially ignored. For example, in someembodiments, the polarization selective layer 122 may be designed to beessentially transparent for both polarizations of the light 118 at thefirst wavelength. In such a case, the reflecting film 123 reflects bothpolarization states of the light 118 at the first wavelength. In otherembodiments, the polarization selective layer 122 may reflect the lightat the first wavelength in one polarization state, in which case thereflecting film 123 reflects the light 118 at the first wavelength inthe second polarization state that is transmitted through thepolarization selective layer 122.

The light 126 at the first wavelength reflected by the PBS 120 isdirected to a color converting phosphor 128. The phosphor 128 contains amaterial that absorbs the light 126 generated by the LEDs 102 andgenerates light at a second wavelength, typically longer than the firstwavelength. In some exemplary embodiments, the phosphor 128 may convertblue or UV light to green light. One particularly suitable example of aphosphor material is Eu-doped strontium thiogallate (SrGa₂S₄:Eu),although other types of phosphor materials may also be used, for examplerare earth doped nitrides and oxy-nitrides, such as europium dopedsilicon aluminum oxy-nitride (SiAlON:Eu) and rare-earth doped garnets,such as cerium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Ce:YAG).

The light 126 may pass through a second light collecting/focusingarrangement 130 on the way to the phosphor 128. The second lightcollecting/focusing arrangement 130 may be configured like the firstlight collecting/focusing arrangement 107, having a focusing optic 132and a light pipe 134, or may be configured differently. The focusingoptic 132 and light pipe 134 concentrate the light 126 on the phosphor128.

The phosphor 128 may be mounted on a baseplate 136 that, in someexemplary embodiments, operates as a heatsink for removing excess heat.The light 138 at the second wavelength (dashed lines) is directed backthrough the second light collecting/focusing arrangement 130 to the PBS120, which transmits the p-polarized light 140 as useful output 142 andreflects the s-polarized light 144. Some element behind the phosphor 128may be used to reflect light at the second wavelength that originally isgenerated traveling in a direction away from the PBS 120. For example,the baseplate 136 itself may be reflective, or an optional reflector 152may be disposed between the phosphor 128 and the baseplate 136. Oneexample of a suitable reflector 152 includes a metal coating on thebaseplate 136, for example a silver coating. Another example of areflector 152 includes Enhanced Specular Reflector (ESR) film availablefrom 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.

A reflective filter 146, transmissive at the first wavelength andreflective at the second wavelength, may be disposed between the PBS 120and the first light collecting/focusing arrangement 107 to reflect thes-polarized light 144 back to the phosphor 128 via the PBS 120. Thereflected light 150 may subsequently be re-reflected, for example by thephosphor 128, the baseplate 136 or the reflector 152, back towards thePBS 120.

A polarization converter 148 may be disposed between the PBS 120 and thephosphor 128 so that at least some of the light 150 reflected back tothe phosphor 128 is subsequently returned to the PBS 120 in thepolarization state that is transmitted as useful output 142.

One characteristic of the system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is that thelight 126 at the first wavelength is incident at the phosphor with anétendue substantially similar to that of the light 106 emitted by theLEDs 102. Consequently, the étendue of the output light 142 at thesecond wavelength is similar to what would have been achieved bygenerating the light at the second wavelength directly using theappropriate LEDs. This permits the output light 142 to be efficientlyused in an illumination application, for example illuminating an LCDimager device.

Another exemplary embodiment of an illumination system 300 that includesa phosphor for converting light wavelength and that produces a polarizedoutput is schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, thelight from the LEDs 102 is passed through a light collection/focusingunit 307 that includes a light pipe 308 having an input 310 and anoutput 312. The light pipe 308 in this particular embodiment has curvedsidewalls so that the light 314 at the output 312 is substantiallytelecentric. The light 314 passes to a dichroic beamsplitter 320 thathas the property of reflecting light at the first wavelength andtransmitting light at the second wavelength. The light 324 at the firstwavelength that is reflected by the dichroic beamsplitter is directedthrough a second light collecting/focusing unit 326 to the phosphor 128.The second light collecting/focusing unit 326 may also comprise a lightpipe 328 having curved sidewalls, or may comprise an optical arrangementdifferent from that of the first light collecting/focusing unit 307.

The light 329 at the second wavelength passes through the second lightcollecting/focusing arrangement 326 and is transmitted through thedichroic beamsplitter 320. A polarizer 330, for example a wire gridpolarizer, a MOF polarizer or a cholesteric polarizer, transmits light332 in one polarization state as useful output and reflects light 334 inthe orthogonal polarization state back to the phosphor 128. Apolarization control element 336, for example a quarter-wave retarder,may be positioned between the polarizer 330 and the dichroicbeamsplitter 320. The reflected light 334 is incident once again at thephosphor 128 and is reflected back towards the polarizer 330 by thephosphor 128, the baseplate 136 or the reflector 152. The polarizationcontrol element 336 is used to rotate the polarization of at least someof the light that is recycled back to the polarizer 330.

Additionally, at least some of the light at the first wavelength that isnot converted by the phosphor 128 to the second wavelength may bereturned to the LEDs 102 via reflection at one of the phosphor 128,reflector 152 or baseplate 136, and reflection at the dichroicbeamsplitter 320. Such reflected light at the first wavelength may berecycled to the phosphor 128 by reflection from the baseplate 104 or theLEDs 102.

In another exemplary embodiment, not illustrated, the dichroicbeamsplitter may transmit the light at the first wavelength and reflectthe light at the second wavelength. In such a configuration, the LEDsand phosphor are typically positioned on opposing sides of the dichroicbeamsplitter.

In some exemplary embodiments, the phosphor may be disposed close to theLEDs, or the LEDs may even be conformally coated with the phosphormaterial. Such a configuration may lead to a reduction in the number ofelements used in the illumination system. Also, in some cases, the LEDsare formed of a material, such as silicon carbide, which is effective attransferring heat from the phosphor to the baseplate.

One exemplary embodiment of an illumination system 400 in which thephosphor is disposed close to the LEDs is schematically illustrated inFIG. 4. The system includes an array of one or more LEDs 102 and a lightcollecting/focusing unit 107. The light collecting/focusing unit may beconfigured differently from the illustrated embodiment, for exampleusing a light pipe with an integrated focusing element or without afocusing element. In addition, the sidewalls may be straight or curved.In the exemplary embodiment the phosphor 428 is positioned close to, oreven on, the LEDs 102. A reflective filter 430 may be placed at theoutput of the light collecting/focusing unit 107 to reflect light 106 atthe first wavelength and to transmit light 432 at the second wavelength,generated by the phosphor 428.

The light 432 at the second wavelength is incident on a PBS 420, whichtransmits light 434 in one polarization state as useful output andreflects light 436 in the orthogonal polarization state. A reflector 438reflects the light 440 back to the PBS 420, where it is reflected backtowards the phosphor 428. The light 440 may subsequently be reflectedback towards the PBS 420 by the phosphor 428, the LEDs 102, thebaseplate 104 or some other reflecting element. A polarization rotationelement 442, such as a quarter-wave retarder, may be positioned betweenthe PBS 420 and the phosphor 428 to rotate the polarization of thereflected light 440, so as to increase the amount of light extracted bythe PBS 420 as useful output 434.

In an alternative configuration, the light that is reflected by the PBSmay be used as the useful output while the reflector is positioned toreflect the light that is transmitted by the PBS.

Another exemplary embodiment of an illumination system 500 isschematically illustrated in FIG. 5A. This exemplary system is similarto the system 400 illustrated in FIG. 4, except that the PBS 420 andreflector 438 are replaced with a reflecting polarizer layer 520, forexample a MOF polarizer, a wire grid polarizer or a cholestericpolarizer. The reflecting polarizer layer 520 transmits light in onepolarization state as useful output 534 and may reflect light 536 in theorthogonal polarization state for recycling.

Another exemplary embodiment of an illumination system 550 isschematically illustrated in FIG. 5B. This system 550 is similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 5A, except that the focusing optic 116 is omittedand the reflective filter 552 and reflecting polarizer 554 are bothcurved. In some embodiments, it may be desired that the centers ofcurvature of both the reflective filter 552 and the reflecting polarizer554 are approximately at the phosphor 428, which reflects the light atboth the first and second wavelengths. This configuration increaseslight 106 at the first wavelength reflected back to the LEDs 102 and theamount of light 536 at the second wavelength reflected back towards thephosphor 428. The centers of curvature may, of course, be locatedelsewhere. The polarization rotation element 442 may be curved to matchthe curve of the reflecting polarizer 554, or may be straight. Curvedreflecting elements may also be used in the other embodiments describedabove. For example, in the system 400 schematically illustrated in FIG.4, the reflective filter 430 and the reflector 438 may each be curved.

One characteristic of the illumination system that increases the amountof the light reflected back for recycling, be it light at the first orsecond wavelengths, is that reflection of the light for recycling doesnot substantially increase the angular range of the incident light uponreflection. This is explained further with reference to FIG. 5C, whichshows the direction of light rays at various points across anon-telecentric light beam propagating along an axis 560. At the centerof the beam, the center ray 562 is parallel to the axis 560, and rays564, 566 propagate at angles al relative to the center ray 562. The rays564, 566 represent the rays whose light intensity is a specifiedfraction of the intensity of the ray of maximum intensity, in this casethe on-axis ray 562. For example, where the light beam has an f/numberof 2.4, the light beam is generally accepted as having a cone halfangle, α1, of ±11.7°, where practically all the light, at least morethan 90%, is contained within the ±11.7° cone.

The dashed line 570, at the edge of the beam, is parallel to the axis560. Ray 572, representing the direction of the brightest ray at theedge of the beam, propagates at an angle θ relative to the axis 560.Rays 574 and 576 propagate at angles of α2 relative to ray 572. Ideally,the value of α2 is close to the value of α1, although they need not beexactly the same.

Reflection of beam 562 by a flat mirror 568, aligned perpendicular tothe axis 560, results a reflected beam that propagates parallel to theaxis 560. Reflection of the beam 572 by the flat mirror 568, on theother hand, results in a reflected beam that propagates at an angle of2θ relative to the axis 560. Thus, reflection of the non-telecentriclight by a flat mirror results in an increase in the angular range ofthe light.

On the other hand, if the light were telecentric, then beams 562 and 572would be parallel, and reflection by the flat mirror 568 would notincrease the angular range of the incident light.

Also, reflection of the non-telecentric light by a curved mirror 580, asschematically illustrated in FIG. 5D may result in no increase in theangular range of the light where the beams 562 and 572 are each normallyincident at the mirror 580.

One exemplary embodiment of a projection system 600 that may use anillumination source of the type described above is schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 6. The system 600 comprises a number of differentlycolored light sources 602 a, 602 b, 602 c that illuminate respectiveimage-forming devices 604 a, 604 b, 604 c, also referred to asimage-forming panels. Each light source 602 a, 602 b, 602 c may includea number of light emitting elements, such as light emitting diodes(LEDs), and produces an output light beam having a particular color. Oneor more of the light sources 602 a, 602 b, 602 c may include a phosphorfor converting the wavelength of the light emitted by the LEDs, a lightcollecting/focusing arrangement for maintaining the étendue of the lightbeam and a polarizer for selecting a desired polarization state. In someembodiments, the illumination light sources 602 a, 602 b, 602 c generaterespective red, green and blue illumination light beams.

The image-forming devices 604 a, 604 b, 604 c may be any suitable typeof image-forming device. For example, the image-forming devices 604 a,604 b, 604 c may be transmissive or reflective image-forming devices.Liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, both transmissive and reflective,may be used as image-forming devices. One example of a suitable type oftransmissive LCD image-forming panel is a high temperature polysilicon(HTPS) LCD device. An example of a suitable type of reflective LCD panelis the liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) panel. The LCD panels modulatean illumination light beam by polarization modulating light associatedwith selected pixels, and then separating the modulated light from theunmodulated light using a polarizer. Another type of image-formingdevice, referred to as a digital multimirror device (DMD), and suppliedby Texas Instruments, Plano, Tex., under the brand name DLP™, uses anarray of individually addressable mirrors, which either deflect theillumination light towards the projection lens or away from theprojection lens. While the illumination light sources may be used withboth LCD and DLP™ type image-forming devices, there is no intention torestrict the scope of the present disclosure to only these two types ofimage-forming devices and illumination systems of the type describedherein may use other types of devices for forming an image that isprojected by a projection system. Also, it is recognized that manysystems that include a DLP™ type image-forming device do not needpolarized illumination light. The illustrated embodiment includesLCD-type image-forming devices for purposes of illustration only, and isnot intended to limit the type of image projection system in which theillumination source is used.

The illumination light sources 602 a, 602 b, 602 c may include beamsteering elements, for example mirrors or prisms, to steer any of thecolored illumination light beams 606 a, 606 b, 606 c to their respectiveimage-forming devices 604 a, 604 b, 604 c. The illumination lightsources 602 a, 602 b, 602 c may also include various elements such aspolarizers, integrators, lenses, mirrors and the like for dressing theillumination light beams 606 a, 606 b, 606 c.

The colored illumination light beams 606 a, 606 b, 606 c are directed totheir respective image forming devices 604 a, 604 b and 604 c viarespective polarizing beamsplitters (PBSs) 610 a, 610 b and 610 c. Theimage-forming devices 604 a, 604 b and 604 c polarization modulate theincident illumination light beams 606 a, 606 b and 606 c so that therespective, reflected, colored image light beams 608 a, 608 b and 608 care separated by the PBSs 610 a, 610 b and 610 c and pass to the colorcombiner unit 614. The colored image light beams 608 a, 608 b and 608 cmay be combined into a single, full color image beam 616 that isprojected by a projection lens unit 611 to the screen 612.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the colored illumination lightbeams 606 a, 606 b, 606 c are reflected by the PBSs 610 a, 610 b and 610c to the image-forming devices 604 a, 604 b and 604 c and the resultingimage light beams 608 a, 608 b and 608 c are transmitted through thePBSs 610 a, 610 b and 610 c. In another approach, not illustrated, theillumination light may be transmitted through the PBSs to theimage-forming devices, while the image light is reflected by the PBSs.

One or more power supplies 620 may be coupled to supply power to theillumination light sources 602 a, 602 b, 602 c. In addition, acontroller 622 may be coupled to the image forming devices 604 a, 604 b,606 c, for controlling the image projected image. The controller 622 maybe, for example, part of a stand-alone projector, or part of atelevision or a computer.

It may be desired in some embodiments to use a densely packed array ofLEDs, for example to achieve efficient and economic generation andcollection of light. Such an array may be arranged to have an aspectratio that is similar to that of the imaging device being illuminatedand to have an étendue at least as large as that of the imaging devicebeing illuminated.

One of the major challenges with packing LEDs densely in an array is themanagement of the heat flux. To help manage this heat load, the LEDs 702may be attached directly to a liquid cooled plate 704, as isschematically illustrated in FIG. 7. The cooled plate 704 may be, forexample, a liquid cooled, microchannel cold plate, having an input 706and an output 708 for the liquid coolant. The number of LEDs 702 mountedto the cold plate 704 may be different from that shown in the figure.One suitable type of cold plate 704 plate is a Normal flow microchannelCold Plate (NCP) available from Mikros Technologies, Claremont, N.H.

An important feature of such an arrangement is to reduce the thermalresistance from p-n junction temperature of the LEDs 702 to the liquidmedium as far as possible by attaching the LEDs 702 directly to the coldplate 704. The LEDs 702 may be attached directly to the liquid cooledplate 704 using any suitable method, for example, a flux eutectic dieattach method or a conductive epoxy.

The flux eutectic method used to attach the LED dies 702 to the coldplate 704 offers low electrical resistance, low thermal resistance andgood mechanical and electrical integrity. It is accomplished by placinga carefully controlled amount of tacky flux on the cold plate. Next, anLED die 702 is precisely positioned on the cold plate through the tackyflux. The LED die 702 is supplied with a metal coating on its lowersurface. The metal coating may be, for example, a mixture of 80:20Au/Sn. The assembly 700 is heated above the melting point of the metalcoating, so that the metal reflows, thereby attaching the LED die 702 tothe cold plate 704. In some embodiments, the heating is only performedfor a short period, for example reaching a temperature of about 305° C.for 5-8 seconds.

Traditionally, a reflow process is performed by directly heating theattachment substrate (e.g.: using a hot plate) or by using a stream ofhot gas aimed at the top of the die. These conventional methods are notwell suited to attaching the LEDS 702 to the cold plate 704, however. Itis difficult to heat the substrate up to reflow temperatures and cooldown again quickly enough to avoid excess dwell time at or near theprocess temperature. Leaving the die at the reflow temperature for toolong can cause the Au/Sn to flow further than desired, and the metal maywick up the side of the LED die, resulting in an undesirable shunt orSchottky contact. Additionally, excess dwell time may cause the die tofully or partially separate from the substrate, resulting in poorelectrical and thermal contact.

The conventional hot gas method can be used to heat the die andproximate substrate for a carefully controlled time, minimizing thelikelihood of shunt formation or die separation. This method is used onedie at a time, however, requiring 5-8 seconds of direct heating per die.This process can be quite time consuming for arrays containing manydies.

Another approach to providing the heat for the reflow process is tocontrol the flow of hot inert gas or hot liquid through the cold plate.This method permits the entire plate 704 to be heated simultaneously,which allows batch processing for vastly improved manufacturingthroughput. Also, since the full thermal mass of the cold plate 704 isnot being heated externally, it is easier to control the dwell time atthe reflow temperature, thus minimizing quality defects associated withexcess time at the reflow temperature.

This process enables the placement of LEDs directly onto a cold plate,which is quite desirable. In conventional approaches, LEDs are mountedon an intermediate substrate that is then mounted to a heat sink. Thisintroduces additional thermal resistance due to the extra layer ofmaterial of the intermediate substrate, and an extra thermal interface.At high flux densities, this extra resistance can substantially increasethe p-n junction temperature (T_(j)) of the LEDs 702 in the array.

The omission of the intermediate substrate and thermal interface reducesthe thermal resistance between the diode junction and the coolant, andso the junction operates at a cooler temperature. This decrease inoperating temperature offers at least two advantages. First, thelifetime of the LEDs is increased while operating at high power, sincethe lifetime is related to T_(j). Keeping the LED die cooler, therefore,increases the reliability. Secondly, higher values of T_(j) adverselyaffect the amount of light output by the LED. By keeping the T_(j)lower, the brightness from the LED array is higher for a given inputpower.

One example of an array of LEDs attached directly to a cold plateincludes 84 LEDs arranged in a 12×7 array. Each LED is a type 460 XT 290blue LED, supplied by Cree Inc., Durham, N.C. Each LED is 300 μm squareand they are mounted with a center-to-center spacing of 325 μm. Thus,the array has a dimension of approximately 3.9×2.25 mm: The LED die arerelatively thin, around 110 μm in height, although taller LEDs may alsobe used. For example, Cree Type XB900 LED die, 900 μm square×250 μmhigh, may also be used. A wirebond wire of 25-50 μm diameter is attachedto the top of each LED to provide electrical connection. The wire may beformed of any suitable material, such as gold. The cold plate serves asthe common ground for all the LEDs.

The phosphor may be conformally coated over the LEDs. The phosphormaterial may be coated on using any suitable method. Some suitable “wet”methods include spraying the phosphor material on the LEDs and dippingthe LEDs in a slurry. Other methods of applying the phosphor, such asvacuum coating methods, may be used.

Since the wavelength conversion of the phosphor is often less efficientat higher temperatures, it is important to keep the phosphor temperaturelow, as well as T_(j). The configuration where the phosphor isconformally coated over the LEDs may enhance the phosphor cooling: theparticular Cree LEDs discussed above are made of silicon carbide, whichhas a relatively high thermal conductivity, thereby reducing the thermalresistance of the heat path between the phosphor and the cold plate.Thus, another advantage of reducing the thermal resistance between theLEDs and the liquid coolant is that the phosphor may be thermallycoupled to the cooling system via the LEDs.

This array is then placed as closely as possible to a tapered lightpipe. Where the wire bonding is of the ‘wedge’ type, rather than the‘ball’ type, the height of the wire bonding is reduced, and so the inputface of the tapered light pipe may be placed as close as approximately100 μm from top surface of the LED dies. The input end of the taperedlight pipe may have input dimensions of approximately 2.25 mm×3.9 mm.The length of the tapered light pipe may be in the range 50 mm-60 mmlong, although other lengths may also be used. In an example where theoutput face has sides that are 1.8 times larger than the input face, theoutput face has a size of approximately 7.05 mm×4.1 mm.

Accordingly, the present invention should not be considered limited tothe particular examples described above, but rather should be understoodto cover all aspects of the invention as fairly set out in the attachedclaims. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerousstructures to which the present invention may be applicable will bereadily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the presentinvention is directed upon review of the present specification. Theclaims are intended to cover such modifications and devices.

1. An illumination source, comprising: an arrangement of one or morelight emitting diodes (LEDs) capable of generating light at a firstwavelength; phosphor material disposed proximate the one or more LEDs,the phosphor material emitting light at a second wavelength whenilluminated by the light at the first wavelength; a lightcollecting/focusing unit comprising at least a tapered optical element;a reflective element disposed to reflect light at the first wavelengththat has passed through the phosphor material; and a reflectivepolarizer disposed to transmit telecentric light at the secondwavelength in a first polarization state and to reflect telecentriclight at the second wavelength in a second polarization state orthogonalto the first polarization state, light at the second wavelengthreflected by the reflective polarizer being directed back towards thephosphor material without an increase in angular range.
 2. A source asrecited in claim 1, wherein the light at the second wavelength istelecentric at the second polarizer.
 3. A source as recited in claim 1,wherein the light at the second wavelength is not telecentric at thesecond polarizer, and the reflective polarizer comprises a curvedreflecting element.
 4. A source as recited in claim 3, wherein thecurved reflecting element has a radius of curvature centeredapproximately at the phosphor material.
 5. A source as recited in claim1, wherein the first wavelength is a blue wavelength and the secondwavelength is a green wavelength.
 6. A source as recited in claim 1,wherein the phosphor material comprises Eu-doped SrGa₂S₄.
 7. A source asrecited in claim 1, wherein the tapered optical element comprises flatreflecting sides.
 8. A source as recited in claim 1, wherein the taperedoptical element comprises curved reflecting sides.
 9. A source asrecited in claim 1, wherein the collimating element comprises a lensdisposed proximate the output end of the tapered optical element.
 10. Asource as recited in claim 1, wherein the tapered optical elementcomprises the collimating element.
 11. A source as recited in claim 10,wherein the tapered optical element comprises a transparent body withinternally reflecting sidewalls and a curved output face.
 12. A sourceas recited in claim 10, wherein the collimating element comprises curvedreflecting sidewalls.
 13. A source as recited in claim 1, wherein thereflective element comprises a long pass reflective filter.
 14. A sourceas recited in claim 1, wherein the reflective polarizer comprises amultilayer optical film polarizing beamsplitter and a mirror.
 15. Asource as recited in claim 1, wherein the reflective polarizer comprisesone of a wire grid polarizer and a cholesteric polarizer.
 16. A sourceas recited in claim 1, further comprising a polarization control elementdisposed between the phosphor and the reflective polarizer.
 17. A sourceas recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more LEDS are spaced apartfrom an input to the a light collecting/focusing unit, and furthercomprising a reflector at least partially surrounding the input so as toreflect light from the one or more LEDS towards the input that wouldotherwise not pass into the input.
 18. A source as recited in claim 1,further comprising a power supply coupled to provide power to the one ormore LEDs.
 19. A source as recited in claim 1, further comprising animage-forming device, light at the second wavelength being directed tothe image-forming device.
 20. A source as recited in claim 19, furthercomprising a projection lens unit disposed to project an image form theimage-forming device and a screen on which the image is projected.
 21. Asource as recited in claim 19, further comprising a controller coupledto control an image formed by the image-forming device.